In making the announcement, DeaconAnthony Mansour, Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Ecumenism said, "Our Centre promotes interfaith dialogue. For this exceptional event, we are bringing together youth chess players with the theme of peace through chess.Chess demonstrates that a resolution of differences can be accomplished in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding and fair play."

The conference convenor,Dr. Arvind SharmaofMcGill University's Faculty of Religious Studiessays,"The 2ndGlobal Conference on World's Religions After 9/11's aim is to bring together the various religions of the world in an ecumenical spirit to address the many issues facing the world today".At the2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, will be joined by Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi, world-famous author Deepak Chopra, Professors Tariq Ramadan, Robert Thurman, Steven T. Katz, Gregory Baum and Swami Dayananda Saraswati who will speak on the theme "Peace Through Religion".

TheChess'n Math Associationwas founded in 1985 and now has three offices, 20 full-time staff and over 100 qualified chess instructors, who teach chess as an extra-curricular activity to over 10,000 youngsters every week.

The event is endorsed by theWorld Chess Federation (FIDE). Ina letter to organizers the President saysthat FIDE is proud to be associated with the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace, which promotes harmony amongst the people of the world. FIDE, which is recognized by the International Olympic Committee as an Intentional Sports Federation, with 170 member federations, has several on-going projects with thePeace and Sportsorganization."Ten years following the events of September 11th, 2001 the need for renewal of the world's commitment to a culture of peace is self-evident. The values enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, have always been part and parcel of the fundamental teachings of all of the world's great religions, and must be at the forefront of all of our actions. The further expansion and strengthening of our spiritual consciousness in the years to come will be a major driving force to the evolution of society. Technology is playing a major role in bringing people together and we are proud to contribute, through our webcast of the event. Each of the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace participants will come out as a winner," said the founder ofMonRoi Inc,Brana Giancristofaro.
Rupert Bazambanza, survivor of the April 1994 genocide in Rwanda, designed the poster Chess for Peace. He emigrated to Montréal, Canada in 1997 where he received his training at the International Academy of Design. Rupert is giving lectures featuring his work with the goal of encouraging tolerance.
Click here to download the 2nd Global Conference on World's Religions After 9/11 FlyerClick here to download the 2011 Youth Chess Tournament for Peace Poster